The doctrine of deification or theosis has been gaining interest among scholars for some time. Yet most publications on the topic have focused on Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions and have subsumed the discussion under the category of soteriology. If “being transformed into the same image” (2 Corinthians 3:18) is truly essential to the Christian life, a fuller understanding of this biblical concept is needed for Christians of all traditions.

The inspiration for this volume emerged from years of friendship, dialogue, and collaboration between a Jewish rabbi and Christian professor. Historically, Jewish-Christian relations has been a fraught sphere of inquiry. Despite sharing a set of Scriptures, the relationship between Christians and Jews has been marked by distrust, misunderstandings, and exaggerated theological differences, which taken together appear to create an indissoluble wedge between the two faiths. This volume brings the two faiths into fruitful and productive dialogue by unearthing recondite, yet highly significant features shared between them. Beyond being an academic exercise, the aspiration undergirding this project is to bridge the gap between Jews and Christians, and by doing so, chart a path forward toward rapprochement, reconciliation, and Jewish-Christian unity.